Houston looking to bounce back at Toronto

Toronto FC has notched two victories in Canadian Championship play in the last week and a half.

Winning MLS games has been another story.

Toronto looks to avoid going winless in seven straight league matches for the first time in three years when it hosts the Houston Dynamo on Saturday night.

Toronto (1-3-4) advanced to the Canadian Championship final with a 1-0 victory over FC Edmonton on Wednesday. Seeking its third consecutive Voyageurs Cup, Toronto will face MLS rival Vancouver in the two-game final that begins May 18.

Despite the win over Edmonton, an expansion team in the North American Soccer League, Toronto looked awful in its most recent MLS game. The club was outshot 19-6 in a 3-0 loss to Seattle last Saturday, with only two shots going on goal.

"During the game, everyone (on our side) was afraid," coach Aron Winter said. "Secondly, (our players) were doing something - just not the things we asked. When most of the players are doing their own thing, it will be difficult."

Winter's club seems to have had a lot of performances like that lately. Toronto has gone 0-2-4 in its last six, scoring three goals in those games while being shut out three times.

Toronto, which endured a six-game winless streak in MLS play last season, hasn't gone seven consecutive league games without a victory since Aug. 17-Sept. 27, 2008.

While Toronto hasn't earned three points in a game in six weeks, the Dynamo (3-2-3) were held without a point for the first time in seven matches when they lost 2-1 to Colorado on Wednesday.

Colin Clark opened the scoring in the 71st minute and the Rapids equalized three minutes later on a free kick. Colorado broke the tie in the 84th minute on Scott Palguta's first career goal.

The defeat snapped the Dynamo's six-game unbeaten streak. Both of Houston's losses have come at home.

"It's unfortunate we've lost two games at home and the fashion in which we did is frustrating, but it's a situation where the best thing to do is get back on the field," coach Dominic Kinnear told the Dynamo's official website.

Houston went 0-1-1 against Toronto last season, with Brian Ching scoring the Dynamo's two goals.

Ching, the franchise leader with 46 goals, has been limited to 91 minutes in four games this season due to hamstring and rib problems.

Midfielder Geoff Cameron was sidelined for the first time this year Wednesday because of swelling in his lower left leg. Cameron, who has a goal and two assists, hopes to play this weekend.